Foot Ulcers Disability Tax Credit

What are Foot Ulcers?

A foot ulcer is an open sore to the foot and can be either shallow or deep. A shallow foot ulcer is a red crater on the surface of the skin, while a deep foot ulcer is a crater extending through the thickness of the skin. It can extend deep into the tendons, bonds, and other deep structures of the foot.

Those with diabetes are more prone to developing a foot ulcer as these patients tend to have poor circulation. Foot ulcers tend to be difficult to heal and may lead to infections if not treated immediately. Types of infections include the foot ulcer leading to cellulitis, a bone infection, or gangrene (dead body tissue).

Symptoms of Foot Ulcers

Symptoms of a foot ulcer are the appearance of a red crater in the skin. Many foot ulcers can be found either on the side or bottom of the foot, as well as the top or tip of a toe. These craters tend to be surrounded by a border of thick callused skin which tends to worsen as time progresses. Pain is not a concern as long as the nerves in the foot are functioning normally.

This makes it more difficult to detect the foot ulcer if pain is not a symptom. In many cases, caregivers of disabled or elderly patients are the ones who notice the ulcer as the foot appears red and swollen. They may also find that their patient has drainage on the sock along with a foul odor.

How to Diagnose a Foot Ulcer?

To diagnose a foot ulcer, a doctor can typically diagnose you simply by looking at your foot. For patients with diabetes, the doctor will assess your control of your blood sugar to determine the health of your feet.

If you have an ulcer the doctor must determine how deep it is, if it is infected, whether the infection has developed into cellulitis or osteomyelitis, and whether you have foot abnormalities. You may be asked to walk as part of your examination to look for abnormal pressure spots on your feet which cause you discomfort when walking and moving around.

To check for neuropathy a doctor will test the sensation of your feet, your reflexes, and see if you can feel vibration on your toes. It is also important that they check the circulation in your legs and feet. Other tests to better understand your foot ulcer include conducting blood tests, x-rays, MRI, CT scan, and a bone scan.

How To Apply for Disability Tax Credit for Foot Ulcers?

To be considered as markedly restricted, you must have difficulty walking 100 metre and move significantly slower than the average person. It may either take a great deal of time to do so, or you may experience shortness of breath or pain.

A walking impairment causes fatigue, ataxia, lack of coordination, and balancing difficulties. These episodes cause you to be unable to walk, or incapacitated for several days at a time.

To apply, our experts will assist you in filling out form T2201 where you will need to get your medical practitioner to complete this form. This will ask your doctor to describe how you are impaired by your disability. It is important to be descriptive in this section as a patient can be affected in a variety of ways by Foot Ulcers.

Disability Tax Credit Consultants at DCC can help to +claim this tax credit and collect up to $40,000 in disability tax credits.